A teenager has died after he was stabbed following a row with a group of youths.

Scotland Yard named him as 16-year-old Ben Kinsella.

Friends who visited the murder scene in Islington, north London, said he is the brother of former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, who played Kelly Taylor in the BBC soap.

Mr Kinsella was stabbed in Islington at around 2am on Sunday during a row with a group of youths, police said.

Miss Kinsella and her boyfriend, former EastEnders actor Ray Panthaki, were among those who paid their respects at the scene in York Way.

Police lifted the cordon around the scene to allow dozens of the dead boy’s friends to pay their respects.

Around 30 teenagers, many of them in tears, paused at the spot where a makeshift shrine had been set up in memory of Ben. More than a hundred bouquets, balloons, an Arsenal scarf and an England flag were left near the spot where he died.

Among the tributes paid were flowers and a card which read: “We will always remember you Ben for your loving ways and that great smile. Paul and Louise.”

Another card signed only Bulldog said: “You are in a better place now mate.”

Among the young people paying tribute to Ben were EastEnders’ stars Joe Swash, who plays Mickey Miller, and Charlie Hawkins, who plays Darren Miller, his half brother in the show. Both Mr Swash and Mr Hawkins, who went to school with Ben, said they were too upset to speak.